Nowadays, online reputation matches that of real-time. Some would even go as far as to say that your online presence is far more important. And this is something that we fill inclined to agree with. After all, Movers Development is an experienced player in the digital marketing business. Our team knows first-hand just how influential certain tools such as a blog for a small business can be. Hence, today we have decided to take you on a journey of revelation. And so, we are going to look into some essential steps that you should consider when starting a blog for your small business.
5 crucial steps in starting a blog
SEO for companies has become a matter of priority. It is the way of the modern-day business world. We all strive to get on that first page of search engine results and establish a dominance in our respective areas of expertise. And one of the tools to make that happen is a well-composed and highly optimized blog on our website. But before we get to that moment, there are certain preparations to be made. And these key elements are as follow:
#1: Opting for the right blogging platform
You can’t just start a blog out of thin air. So, the first thing to do is for you to secure the right content management platform for your website. However, this is a challenging endeavor because of a large number of factors to consider. Therefore, if you wish to get a head start on the competition, you have to consider the following features before starting a blog:
- price
- user experience
- themes and layouts
- support
- speed
- functionality and responsiveness
- ease of interaction with your visitors
Quite a tall order of factors, right? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a single platform that entails and combines all of these elements? Well, good news – there is such a CMS. And it is called WordPress – the ultimate platform of modern SEO efforts.
Free and very user-friendly, WordPress enables you countless options with a few simple clicks. It is a platform that offers developers an endless supply of plugins and innovative creations. This is why most people consider it as the perfect CMS application. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking that there aren’t other platforms to look into. Wix, Blogger, Joomla, and other alternatives are always available for those willing to do the research. So, you can do a cross-comparison of all these and then make your decision.
#2: You need to set your priorities straight
What does this mean? It means that there are always more important goals and objectives to focus on. The prime example here would be the need to define your target audience and focus your efforts on them. So, before you start writing your blog, you have to research who your readers are. Otherwise, you risk investing time and words into a lost cause.
On the other hand, if you successfully tap into your reader base with the right content, you are as good as in their minds. Starting a blog means more than simply putting words into articles and publishing it on a regular basis. Remember that you are here to provide people with informative data that they can use to solve their problems. There are 2 ways to do this:
- Develop a strong niche. You can’t really combine topics such as relocation and agriculture. Instead, you need to establish a clear niche to build integrity and credibility with your readers. Thus, moving industry news could include areas such as real estate, migration trends, home improvement etc.
- Have a clear blogging strategy. Starting a blog requires a detailed plan of action. So, instead of improvising and going on a whim, make sure to plan everything. Set long-term goals, develop a proper content strategy, find ways to promote your blog, and stay responsive towards your target base.
#3: Invest time and effort into SEO
If you wish to switch your focus to starting a blog, you are probably not a “numbers” type of person. You value your language as the true weapon here, which is true to a certain point. The matter of fact is that you always need numbers to measure progress. And this is why stats play such an important role when you want your blog to go over your competition. And for this, you need to work on your SEO, which includes a number of steps:
- keyword research and development
- link building
- optimizing your URLs
- writing high-quality content, etc.
#4: Planning the layout of your blog
Nobody really wants to read a blog on a B-rate website. And this is completely understandable. This is why it is all the more important to have well-developed landing pages that inspire user satisfaction and confidence. At the end of the day, we are all attracted to good-looking occurrences. Websites are no different, the better the design and layout of it are, the more time people will want to spend on them.
And the best part is that website development and design is no longer the challenge it once was. With the help of WordPress and some expert-looking themes, website customization can be a breeze. Remember this – the impact of website design on your organic traffic is huge. And when it comes to starting a blog, it is a very influential factor.
#5: Composing an email list
Starting a blog is but a stepping stone towards something bigger and more important. The goal here is not just to get people to read your blog but to have them want to continue reading your posts. Hence, you have to make sure to constantly grow your list of email subscribers. To achieve this, consider taking the following steps:
- set up a welcome email for new subscribers
- add subscription CTAs to your blog
- create a dedicated landing page for subscribers
This is just the beginning…
These five steps for starting a blog are just the ones most usually overlooked by people. As long as you stick to these guidelines, you will be set and on the right path towards a successful online presence.
